School books carrier



Filed July 7, 1965 FIG. 3

l2 FIG. 4

K/ R. R Hmm 9, N WA M 0 E L66 Y B M 0 w 1 A". $1 I /v m ,I/ l 2 2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,273,770 SCI-HUGE. BQUKS (IARIRHER Leon A. Miller, Chicago, IlL, assignor to Henest Corporation, Chicago, lllh, a corporation of Illinois Filed .Iuly 7, I965, Ser. No. 469,994 Claims. (Cl. 22446) This invention relates to devices particularly useful for school children to tote school books, notebooks, pencils, papers and the like between home and school, as well as between classes.

A principal object of the invention is to provide such a device which will be both useful for this purpose and will also have an appeal to school children. The device should also be one that is economical to manufacture and inexpensive to purchase.

An important feature of the invention is that I provide a device on which one or several books and/ or notebooks of a variety of different sizes can be randomly stacked and thereafter conveniently toted by the child, either by cradling it against his chest, by tucking the device beneath his arm or by holding it at his side while grasping its lower portion in his hand.

Another feature of the invention is that the device may be inverted and used as a book rest or as a writing table. In this connection it may be either placed on a desk, a bench, or other flat surface. It may also be simply held in ones lap.

In accordance with my invention, such devices are preferably molded of plastics, although they may be formed of any other suitable sheet material and comprise a unitary member having a generally rectangular shaped main or backer wall of convenient size on which to stack school books. Integral with said backer wall I provide a bottom wall which I make long enough to extend across the width of the backer and terminate in an upstanding front wall of shorter height, spaced forwardly of the backer wall. The width of the bottom wall I make of a size convenient for grasping by the child as when holding at his side. Along one side of the device I also provide a side wall which I integrally join with both the front and bottom walls, and also with the hacker wall. This side wall cooperates with the front and backer walls first to retain school books in place when randomly stacked on the backer wall. The side wall also acts as a reinforming strut by reason of its connection with said backer front and bottom walls to give strength and rigidity to the member. This is important, first to produce a rugged structure which can withstand the considerable amount of abuse and rugged treatment to which the device may be subjected. It also gives strength and shape retention to the backer when the device is inverted and used as a book rest or writing desk.

In order to adapt my school books carrier for use as a book rest or writing desk, I provide the sidewall with an inclined planar edge portion, preferably adjacent the upper edge of the backer wall which I dispose in a plane including the upper edge of both said backer wall and of the front wall. Therefore when the device is inverted, it can be rested by said upper edges of the back and front walls and also the planar edge portion on a horizontal surface and provide a stable support for the backer wall which is then disposed in an inclined plane so as to be useful in supporting a bdok for reading and/ or a surface on which paper may be located for writing. Preferably, also I provide a ledge on the rear of the upper edge of the backer which is out of the way when the device is used to carry books, but is available to hold a book or paper supported on the backer wall when the device is thus inverted.

Because the structure is so designed that it may be manufactured out of available plastics using conventional molding techniques, not only can such devices be supplied in a variety of colors, but they also can be provided with surface ornamentation in the molding process. For example, the backer wall may be provided with scale markings along one edge which permits using the device as a ruler. Surfaces of the backer wall or other walls of the device may also have multiplication tables, weights and measures conversion tables and the like impressed or molded into the surfaces thereof. These may also be printed thereon or applied by transparent decals.

In one form of the invention, I provide a compartment on the bottom wall of the device which I locate in the space between the backer and front wall but below the upper edge of the front wall. Such a compartment will be useful for storage of pencils, erasers and other small objects which a child may want to carry. At the same time it does not interfere with the primary function of the front wall which is a retainer for books stacked against the backer wall.

Preferably such a compartment will have an entrance at one side which may or may not be provided with a closure or cover. The walls forming the compartment can be integrally formed during the molding of the device, or the compartment can be separately formed and thereafter, welded or otherwise secured upon the bottom wall of the device between the front and backer walls thereof. The compartment may also be left unsecured for optional use by the school child.

Still another feature of my invention is that the device is so constructed that it is adapted for hanging on a wall or for leaning thereagainst. It may also be placed flat on a table or on a bench.

Still another feature of my invention is that it may have provision for securing keys or other objects thereto, for example, to detachably secure a flexible cover for the device.

Many other features, objects and/or advantages of the invention will be at once apparent or will become so from the detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention which will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring therefore now to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of said embodiment and shows by phantom lines a plurality of books stacked against the backer wall thereof;

FIGURE 3 shows the device in inverted position and used as a writing table or book rest;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmented partially sectioned view illustrating a modification of the invention provided with a compartment in which pencils, erasers and other small objects may be stored; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmented partially sectioned view of a third embodiment employing a different construction of storage compartment.

Referring now more specifically to the several views and first to FIGURE 1, the invention is there illustrated as embodying a unitary member indicated generally at It). Said member may be transparent or translucent lthough it is preferably of opaque material. It may be formed of any suitable thermoplastic or thermosetting resin material, as by injection or compression molding techniques. Suitable materials would include the various phenolic resins such as phenolformaldehyde; amino aldehyde resins such as urea formaldehyde, and any of the acrylic resins or polystyrene. Any other suitable plastic or synthetic resin material also may be used. It may be also constructed of any suitable lightweight metal or other shape-retaining generally rigid materials. It may be provided with any desired color or surface texture.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the device will comprise a generally rectangular shape backer wall 12 of thin gauge sheet stock having a generally rectangular shaped narrower bottom wall 14 of similar thickness extending across the width thereof and terminating in an upstanding front wall 16 thereby spaced from backer wall 12 and preferably substantially parallel therewith. Along one side of the member and integrally joined with the adjacent side edges of backer wall 12, bottom wall 14 and front wall 16 is a side wall 18 to provide strength and rigidity to the structure.

As shown best in FIGURE 2, the upper edge of side wall 18 includes a concave portion 20 immediately adjacent the upper edge 22 of the front wall 16 which comprise an arc of relatively short radius. As illustrated, this arcuate edge portion curves upwardly from the top edge 22 of the front wall and merges into a gradually receding edge portion 23 comprising the major extent of the sidewall, said portion 23 merging into a straight line or planar edge proportion 24, which terminates short of the top edge 26 of the hacker Wall 12. As shown in FIGURE 3, planar edge portion 24 is so inclined as to lie in a plane including upper edge 22 of the front Wall 16 and upper edge 26 of the backer wall 12. As shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 the width of side wall 18 throughout its full length is less than the separation of the front wall 16 and backer wall 12 wherefore, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the device may be inverted and rested on a horizontal surface S, which may be the top of a table or bench. In this position the device is stably supported by reason of the parallel linear contact of its upper edges 22 and 26 of the front and backer walls respectively and by the substantially linear or planar contact provided by edge portion 24, which is of substantial extent and is also disposed at right angles to the extent of the contact or support established by upper edges 22 and 26. Side wall 18, being integrally joined along its adjacent edges with backer wall 12, bottom wall 14 and front wall 16, also provides strength and rigidity to the construction and for which reason I find that I am able to construct my school book carrier of relatively thin gauge stock. This represents a considerable savings in cost. For example, in practice I have found that the device may 'be formed of polystyrene to a wall thickness in the order of of an inch. At such a thickness, backer 12 by reason of side wall 18 functions as a strut, the device has sufilcient rigidity and resistance to pressure that a book may be rested thereon for studying or reading and it will also be able to withstand the normal pressures exerted thereon as when writing or drawing on paper supported on the inclined rear surface of the backer wall 12 when used as a writing surface or desk.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the illustrated arcuate shape of upper edge portion 20 of side wall 18 serves to hold books loaded on backer wall 12 against lateral dislodgment. For example, as illustrated in FIGURE :2, a stack of books has been piled so high against backer wall 12 that the top book Br actually rests on the upper edge 22 of the front wall 16 when the carrier device 10 is supported in the illustrated vertical position. However, arcuate edge portion 20 nevertheless serves to prevent its accidental lateral displacement from the stack. In effect book B2 is still supported on three sides as are the other books which are wholly within the confines of the space between front wall 16 and the backer wall 12.

In its preferred form, I make the backer wall 12 to a size of approximately 9 x 12 /2 or 13 inches, which I find is sufficiently large to support even the largest size of books which a child will usually be carrying. Larger sizes of books can of course protrude above the top edge 26 and free side edge 32. Preferably I select a width of approximately 3 /2 inches for bottom wall 14 and a height of approximately 1 /2 or 2 inches for front wall 16. These dimensions accommodate the thickness of the maximum number of books which a school child can be expected to carry home. These dimensions also represent a bulk or volume which can be conveniently cradled in a school childs arms, against his chest or tucked beneath his arm or held at his side. The 3 /2 inch width of the bottom wall 14 is also one about which a school child can conveniently cup his fingers to hold the device at his side or tucked under his arm and loaded with books. The indicated dimensions of the side wall 18 are also sufiicient to provide the requisite strength and rigidity to the total structure, while also cooperating with the front, bottom and backer walls to support a stack of books and to resist their displacement in at least three and possibly four directions. As previously mentioned, however, because I leave the top of the hacker wall and side 32 of the device open and unobstructed, any number of widths of books can be stacked thereon and carried up to the resistance of the material of which the device itself is constructed and/or the strength and ability of the child to maneuver the loaded device. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the dimensions of the side wall 18 permit it to be conveniently inverted and supported on a flat surface so as to incline the rear wall 28 of the backer wall 12 at a suitable angle to provide a rest for a book or surface on which to support paper for writing or drawing. Also at 30, I preferably provide a narrow lip or ledge which by reason of its disposition at the upper edge 26 of the backer wall and projecting rearwardly thereon will be useful to hold a book or paper on surface 28. At the same time, it can be made so small as to be unnoticed when the device is used as a carrier for books and tucked under the arm or cradled against ones chest.

The free side 32 of backer wall 12 which is opposite that integrally joined With reinforcing side Wall 18, may have a scale 34 impressed therein so that the device may be used as a substitute ruler in an emergency. In the molding of the structure 10, or in a separate subsequent operation the surfaces of backer wall 12, bottom wall 14, front wall 16, or side wall 18, may have multiplication tables, weight and measure tables, conversion tables, or any other desired legends printed or molded or impressed thereon or therein. Preferably, however, the rear surface 28 of backer wall is left smooth for its indicated utility as a writing surface. Openings may also be provided in front wall 16 for gluing inserted buttons bearing initials or the like. Initials may also be glued or otherwise attached to the surface of wall 16.

At 36, I also have provided a small opening by means of which the device may be hung on a hook. The device also may be leaned against a wall or it may be rested fiat with its surface 28 on a bench or the like when loaded with hooks. Aperture 36 also serves as a convenient means for detachably securing a key chain or other implement.

Conceivably, when loaded with a stack of books my carrier 10 may also be enclosed by a cover of flexible plastic material, transparent or opaque, to protect the books and notes from the weather. Such a cover may be provided with a loop or other portion which can be pushed through opening 36 and tied or otherwise secured.

I may also provide my carrier 10 with a compartment in which to store pencils, erasers, or any other small object a child may wish to carry to and from school. Referring therefore to FIGURE 4, I have shown an alternate construction having a wall 38 spaced above the bottom wall 14- and disposed essentially in parallel relation therewith, but below the upper edge 22 of the front wall 16. Preferably wall 38 will be formed during the molding of member 111 and in any event will be integrally joined along three of its four sides with the hacker wall 12, side wall 18 and front wall 16, respectively. As thus arranged, and joined with said walls, it defines a compartment having an entrance 40 in one side through which may be inserted various small objects, for exam ple, the mentioned pliofilm cover, which encloses the total unit for protection against weather. It may also be used as a convenient storage area for pencils, erasers, compasses, and perhaps a sandwich or two. In fact, it provides a place for storing any of the numerous small objects conventionally carried by a school child. Preferably entrance 40 will be provided with a cover. In FIGURE 4, I have shown a closure member in the form of a plug 42 having side walls 44 adapted to have friction fit with the adjacent margins of the inner surface of the four walls of the compartment as defined by Wall 36, bottom wall 14, backer wall 12 and front wall 16. The cover may however also be hinged. Closure 42 may be also provided with a handle as indicated at 46.

In FIGURE 5, I show an alternate construction wherein the compartment defined by the aforementioned walls 38, 12, 16, 14 and side wall 18 provides space in which to locate a removable drawer 48 and which may be adapted to have friction fit with walls 38, 12, 14 and 16 of the thus defined compartment. Drawer 48 may be also provided with a handle 50.

It will be understood that many other possible variations and/or rearrangements of the described parts of the unitary structure and/ or the modifications thereof to include a pocket or storage compartment may be had within the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Thus it will be apparent from the above description that all the recited objects, advantages and/or features of the invention have been demonstrated as obtainable in a convenient economical and highly practical manner.

Therefore, having described my invention, I claim:

1. A carrier for school books and the like comprising a unitary member of sheet-like material having a generally rectangular-shaped backer Wall, a rectangular shaped bottom wall along the Width thereof and an upstanding front wall of limited height spaced forwardly of the backer wall, and a side wall on one side of the member formed with the side edges of said front and bottom walls and extending along the side of the hacker wall to short of its upper edge, the side wall being of a width less than the spacing of the front wall from the hacker wall and having an inclined planar edge portion lying in a plane including the upper edges of said front and backer wall, the member thereby being adapted to be inverted and rested by said upper edges of the front and backer Walls and planar edge portion on a horizontal surface so as to stably support the backer wall in an inclined plane and function as a book rest and writing surface.

2. A carrier for school books and the like comprising a unitary member of sheet-like material having a generally rectangulanshaped backer wall, a forwardly projecting rectangular shaped bottom wall extending along the width thereof and terminating in an upstanding front wall extending the width of the backer wall and of a height less than that of the backer wall, and a side wall on one side of the member joined with the front and bottom Walls of said member, said side wall extending along the adjacent side edges of the hacker wall to short of its upper edge affording strength and shape retention to the member, said side wall cooperating with the front and bottom walls of said member to retain a stack of school books placed on the backer wall against accidental dislodgment therefrom, the height of the upper edge of the hacker wall from the bottom wall and the width of said bottom wall being such as to permit a comfortable grasping of the member in a school childs hand while carried between his arm and body, the side wall being so dimensioned as to permit the member to be inverted and rested by its upper edges of its front and backer walls on a horizontal surface so as to support the hacker wall in an inclined plane adapting it to function as a book rest and writing surface.

3. A carrier for school books and the like comprising a unitary member of sheet-like material having a generally rectangular-shaped backer wall, a forwardly extending bottom wall extending along the width thereof and terminating in an upstanding front wall of a height less than that of the backer wall, and a side wall extending along one side of the hacker wall to short of its upper edge cooperating with the front and bottom walls of said member to retain in place a stack of school books placed against the backer wall, the side wall having a width less than the spacing of the front wall from the hacker Wall and including a planar edge portion adjacent the upper edge of the backer wall lying in an inclined plane including the upper edge of said backer wall, adapting the member to be inverted and rested by said upper edge of the hacker walls and planar edge port-ion of the side wall on a horizontal surface so as to stably support the hacker wall in an inclined plane and function as a book rest and writing surface.

4. A carrier for school books and the like comprising a unitary member of sheet-like material having a generally rectangular-shaped backer wall, a rectangular shaped bottom Wall projecting forwardly thereof and terminating in an upstanding front wall extending the width of the hacker wall and of a limited height, being disposed generally parallel to the hacker wall, and a side wall joined with the side edges of the front and bottom Walls of said member and extending along one side of the hacker wall to short of its upper edge affording strength and shape retention to the member, said side wall cooperating with the front and bottom walls of said member to retain school books stacked on the hacker wall against accidental dislodgment therefrom, the height of the upper edge of the backer wall from the bottom wall and the width of said bottom wall being such as to permit a comfortable grasp thereof in a school childs hand while the member is held between his arm and body, the side wall generally receding in width from adjacent the upper edge of the front wall and including an inclined planar edge portion adjacent the upper edge of the hacker Wall, said planar edge portion lying in a plane including the upper edges of said front and backer wall, the member thereby being adapted to be inverted and rested by said upper edges of the front and backer walls and planar edge portion on a horizontal surface so as to stably support the backer wall in an inclined plane and to function as a book rest and writing surface.

5. A school books carrier as claimed in claim 4, having a narrow ledge adjacent the upper edge of the backer wall on its rear side.

6. A school books carrier as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hacker wall includes a free side edge having scale markings therealong.

7. A school books carrier as claimed in claim 4, having a compartment within the space defined by said front bottom and backer walls for storing pencils and other small objects.

8. A school books carrier as claimed in claim 4, having a further wall spaced above the bottom wall of the member and joined to the front, side and backer walls of the member to provide a storage compartment having an entrance in its other side.

9. A school books carrier as claimed in claim 8, having a closure for said entrance to the storage compartment.

10. A school books carrier as claimed in claim 8, further having a drawer in said compartment accessible through said entrance thereto.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,590,732 3/1952 Simancik 24844 X 3,041,774 7/1962 Walker 22446 X 3,220,625 11/1965 Protheroe 224-45 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. WERNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER FOR SCHOOL BOOKS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A UNITARY MEMBER OF SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL HAVING A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR-SHAPED BACKER WALL, A RECTANGULAR SHAPED BOTTOM WALL ALONG THE WIDTH THEREOF AND AN UPSTANDING FRONT WALL OF LIMITED HEIGHT SPACED FORWARDLY OF THE BACKER WALL, AND A SIDE WALL ON ONE SIDE OF THE MEMBER FORMED WITH THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID FRONT AND BOTTOM WALLS AND EXTENDING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE BACKER WALL TO SHORT OF ITS UPPER EDGE, THE SIDE WALL BEING OF WIDTH LESS THAN THE SPACING OF THE FRONT WALL FROM THE BACKER WALL HAVING AN INCLINED PLANAR EDGE PORTION LYING IN PLANE INCLUDING THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID FRONT AND BACKER WALL, THE MEMBER THEREBY BEING ADAPTED TO BE INVERTED AND RESTED BY SAID UPPER EDGES OF THE FRONT AND BACKER WALLS AND PLANAR EDGE PORTION ON A HORIZONTAL SURFACE SO AS TO STABLY SUPPORT THE BACKER WALL IN AN INCLINED PLANE AND FUNCTION AS A BOOK REST AND WRITING SURFACE. 